If you've been charged with a crime and must begin navigating the criminal justice system, a criminal defense attorney will be a key asset and your greatest ally.
It’s important that an attorney is a good fit for the case. A consultation is an opportunity to meet confidentially with a defense attorney, tell your side of the story, and establish what may become the foundation of your case. It’s best to show up to a criminal defense attorney consultation prepared with all the materials you need to get a potential attorney up to speed on the situation.
What to Prepare Before Meeting with a Criminal Defense Attorney
Personal Statement: Your consultation is an opportunity to tell your story, and to inform your criminal defense attorney on the details of your criminal case. In order to maximize your time and guarantee you include all the important details of the situation, it may be beneficial to write out a statement in advance.
All Relevant Documents: The legal process involves a lot of paperwork, and each piece is valuable when building a case. Before your consultation, gather all police or court documents related to the situation. This can include documents describing the charges against you, bail documents, orders of protection, and information on any previous criminal cases in which you were involved, among many other documents.
This information is crucial to a case; the more you provide, the better your attorney can understand the situation and defend your rights.
List of Witnesses: Prepare a list of witnesses - including their contact information - who can be helpful to your defense. This could be individuals who can confirm your alibi, testify to your character, or otherwise corroborate your story. It will also be beneficial to compile a list of individuals who may have damaging evidence against you.
Come with Questions: The legal system is complex. A consultation is a great opportunity to ask an expert questions you have about your case or the legal process in general. Take some time prior to the meeting to think of your questions, and write them down so you can reference them as needed. During a consultation the criminal defense attorney can walk through these questions with you.
The following questions are a great place to start:
What are my legal options?
What are the best and worst case scenarios?
How long will the legal process take?
How often will I have to appear in court?
What is your experience handling cases like mine?
How do you charge for services?
Are there actions I should take now, or avoid taking now?
Schedule a Criminal Defense Attorney Consultation
Everson Law Firm provides full-service criminal defense representation and can offer expert assistance in a wide range of criminal defense matters. Contact us to set up a free consultation with Criminal Defense Attorney Randall Petrouske.